Prof Koh singles out DPM Tharman as model leader

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Prof Koh singles out DPM Tharman as model leader


September 17th, 2015 |
Author: Editorial



In
an article in the Straits Times today (‘Ten reflections on GE 2015′, 17 Sep),
Prof Tommy Koh, Singapore’s Ambassador-At-Large, commented on some of the
reasons why PAP won the the general election (GE) in a big way.

He started his article by relating a story on Cooling-off Day. His friend had
invited him to lunch with a group of eminent Singaporeans. At lunch, they talked
about politics and he asked the group to predict the outcome of the GE.

The majority said PAP’s share of votes would go down and predicted that PAP
would lose 1 GRC and 1 SMC. But just like the pundits and the bookies, they were
all proven wrong when the results came out.

Prof Koh then proceeded to give his 10 reflections on PAP’s, in his own
words, “surprising and extraordinary” victory:

1, SG50 – It helped to increase the popularity of PAP at the
polls.

2. The Lee Kuan Yew factor – Mr Lee’s passing triggered a
spontaneous outpouring of emotions for him by Singaporeans. Singaporeans
acknowledged that Singapore’s success was due, in large part, to the vision,
courage and determination of Mr Lee and the other founding fathers. Some of this
goodwill for Mr Lee helped PAP at the polls.

3. Fear of a freak election result – All the parliamentary
seats were contested this GE, so that PAP losing power was a distinct
possibility. Singaporeans want a credible, constructive and responsible
opposition in Parliament, but they also want PAP to form the government.
Singaporeans feared that the fragmented opposition were not in a position to
form a government.

4. The silver vote – The Pioneer Generation Package,
MediShield Life, and the Silver Support Scheme helped more or less to win the
hearts and minds of senior citizens. Prof Koh thinks that most of the half a
million Pioneer Generation voters (aged over 65) would have voted PAP.

5. Remedying 3 pain points – The PAP government has brought
relief to 3 pain points that emerged in the last GE:

• Housing – increased the supply of public housing, and cooled the overheated
  property market
• Immigration – reduced the intake of foreign workers
• Transport – although trains still break down, more buses are employed to
  relieve the situation

Of the 3 pain points, PAP has brought relief to 2-and-a-half of them. The
electorate, which is fair-minded, has therefore decided to reward PAP for
listening to its concerns and responding to them, Prof Koh said.

6. Challenge of inequality – The introduction of schemes
like Workfare and the Progressive Wage Model have helped. The government has
also opened 2 schools for students who failed their PSLE. It has upgraded the
quality of technical and vocational education offered by ITE. It has introduced
a new educational initiative called SkillsFuture, based on the successful
apprenticeship system in Germany and Switzerland. It has expanded its support
for early education.

The PAP government was given much credit for the many initiatives it has
taken to address the problem.

7. Credibility of the Workers’ Party – Although WP rebutted
PAP’s allegations on the AHPETC issue, the exchange left some voters in doubt
about the opposition party. This factor could perhaps explain the loss of
Punggol East, the drop in votes in Hougang and Aljunied GRC, and its failure to
capture East Coast GRC and Fengshan SMC. Prof Koh said it’s important for WP to
clear its name, and to restore the electorate’s faith in its competence and
integrity.

8. PAP’S electoral strategy – PAP devoted more manpower and
resources to door-to-door campaigning and retail diplomacy. The party also
decided to capitalise on the popularity of PM Lee by putting up his poster in
every constituency. It was a gamble but the strategy seemed to have paid
off.

9. Insecure world – Singapore voters have always been
affected by the external environment, Prof Koh noted. In this GE, the PAP’s
narrative about the terrorist threat from ISIS and the uncertain global economy
worked to its advantage.

10. Voice of reason

Prof Koh saved the best of his 10 reflections to the last – the voice of
reason.

Of all the PAP leaders, Prof Koh singled out only DPM and Finanace Minister
Tharman for being a model leader.

“I am glad that the PAP leader whose team scored the highest popular vote of
79 per cent was Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman
Shanmugaratnam. He was always calm and measured,” Prof Koh said.

“He never uttered an insult or a threat. Instead, he explained the PAP’s
policies and rebutted the alternatives put forward by the opposition in a clear
and rational way. He was intellectually brilliant but came across as humble and
open-minded.”

In other words, DPM Tharman never engaged in personal attacks in the election
just concluded, unlike a number of other PAP leaders, including some
up-and-coming ones such as Sim Ann, who attacked SDP Dr Chee voraciously.

Finally, Prof Koh said, “I hope other politicians would seek to emulate him
(DPM Tharman).”


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